Crooked House

by Agatha Christie
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Hugh Fraser
genre: detective murder mystery fiction

I haven't read an Agatha Christie book in a while and I enjoyed this one. I won't give any spoilers, but I love the way the author makes it possible for *any* of the characters to be the murderer while also making it seem that each one would not have done so. There were lots of clues along with red herrings. Delightful! I was not surprised at the ending, but I enjoyed the circuitous route of getting there.

Charles Hayward - our hero
his dad - a commissioner at Scotland Yard
Sophia Leonides - Charles' fiancee'
Aristide Leonides - Sophia's grandfather and the charismatic patriarch of the clan, newly murdered
Brenda Leonides - Aristide's much younger wife
Roger Leonides - Aristide's nervous son who isn't very good at business
Clemency - Roger's austere wife who wants to get him away from the family
Philip - Aristide's other son - an intellectual, a bit of a recluse
Magda - Philip's wife, actress, dramatic
Eustace - Philip and Magda's son (Sophia is oldest), teenage, sullen
Josephine - Philip and Magda's youngest daughter - 12 years old, snoops, bratty
Edith de Havilland - Aristide's sister-in-law from his first marriage; came to help care for the children
Nanny - hired help? an actual grandma? elderly lady who cooks and looks after the kids
Inspector - I forgot his name
Lawrence Brown - the tutor engaged for Eustace and Josephine, a conscientious objector during WWII, nervous, in love with Brenda (and she with him)

The Crooked House - the house is itself a character of sorts. It sets the scene and adds to the intrigue.